Bucks Co. Parks To Reopen On Monday

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — County parks in Bucks County will reopen on Monday, officials announced — even as they expressed mixed feelings over the decision during the coronavirus outbreak.

"I really don't think this is a good idea, necessarily, to open the parks," said Diane Ellis-Marseglia, chairwoman of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners on Thursday. "(But) there has been a great up-rise to do so. Taxpayers do pay for those parks ... ."

The county shut down its parks on March 24 as social-distancing measures to curb the spread of the new coronavirus were ramping up.

Get the latest updates on coronavirus in Bucks County by signing up for Patch news alerts.

Commission Vice-Chairman Bob Harvie said rangers will be on site to enforce social distancing at the parks and will not be allowing people to gather in groups.

"We're reminding you to please be smart about using the parks, to maintain that social distancing from other people," Harvie said.

Dr. David Damsker, the director of the Bucks County Health Department, said Wednesday that, while social distancing remains important, the county has seen a leveling off in the number of new cases of the coronavirus reported each day.

The vast majority of new cases have been reported in group living homes and among healthcare workers, Damsker said.

"These deaths are not occurring out in the general public for the most part and that's a good, positive sign," Damsker said.

RELATED: 7 In Bucks Nursing Homes Die With Coronavirus Wednesday

Still, with parks set to re-open, commissioners urged caution by residents who plan to use them.

"If you happen to live in a neighborhood where you can walk or near a shopping center where you can walk ... maybe give that park space to people who live in apartments and condos and maybe don't have access to getting out," Ellis-Marseglia said. "Let them have first dibs on those parks."

The county owns eight county parks, in addition to other recreation facilities, historic sites and nature centers.

The county parks in Bucks County are:

Core Creek Park
Location: Middletown Township, south of Newtown, east of Rt. 413 on Tollgate Road.
Phone: 215-757-0571
Features: 1,200 acres, playgrounds, campgrounds, picnic areas, tennis, dog park, fishing, bike and walking trails

Lake Towhee Park
Location: Old Bethlehem Road, Applebachsville
Phone: 215-757-0571
Features: 549 acres, playground, picnic area, hiking, boating, fishing, camping

Peace Valley Park
Location: 264 Creek Road, New Britain Township
Phone: 215-822-8608
Features: 1,500 acres, nature center, playgrounds, picnicking, hiking, boat rental, fishing, bike and walking trails

Playwicki Park

Location: Maple Avenue, Langhorne
Phone: 215-757-0571
Features: 33 acres, playgrounds, picnicking, hiking, fishing

Ringing Rocks Park
Location: Ringing Rocks Road, Upper Black Eddy
Phone: 215-757-0571
Features: 128 acres, picnicking, hiking, nature areas, geological formation

Silver Lake Park
Location: Bath Road, Bristol Township
Phone: 215-757-0571
Features: 465 acres, playgrounds, picnicking, hiking, boating, fishing, nature areas

Tinicum Park
Location: River Road (Rt. 32), Erwinna
Phone: 215-757-0571
Features: 126 acres, playground, picnicking, hiking, boating, fishing, camping, historic features

Tohickon Valley Park
Location: Cafferty Road, Point Pleasant
Phone: 215-297-0754
Features: 612 acres, picnicking, hiking, playground, swimming, fishing, tent/cabin camping

For information on Bucks County recreation sites, nature centers, historic properties and other locations, visit the Bucks County Parks and Recreation website.

>>>Full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania